Costa Mesa High School Drama

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Volunteer Opportunities!

For Parents

Plays this Year

For Students

All Students 7th through 12th grade welcome!


Play Production Expectations

Questions:

Does it cost anything? (Fundraising?)

Generally, everyone is expected to pay the fee of $60, you can also sell program ads for the play program for each play. Attending the cast party usually requires chipping in $5 for food and drinks. If you want to buy a t-shirt to remember the play by, the cost is usually $11-$15. You might require makeup, or shoes, or certain pieces of a costume.

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Can you get community service and/or school credits for the plays?

Each school play will earn 5.0 credits and a grade. So work hard and earn an A!

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What are the rehearsal times?

Rehearsal times range from 3pm to 10pm, but your rehearsal times are based on the part you get. The rehearsal times will be released after the parts and conflicts of schedules are taken into account.

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Do you have to attend all rehearsals?

It is good to make to all of the rehearsals, but the Director does make exceptions for conflicts. However, during the two weeks before the show opens, only serious conflicts will be accepted.

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How long do rehearsals tend to be?

This depends on your part. Usually, they range from 1-4 hours.

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What do you do for auditions?

For Fall plays, you attend the workshop, receive an excerpt of the script. At auditions you perform that excerpt as best as you can. If you get a "call back", asked to return, then you read another excerpt or the same one. Remember to speak clearly, loudly, and with expression! Do not be afraid to make movements while you read. Memorization DOES help!

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Something Important to Know from the Start

CMHS Drama is committed to an educational, artistic, life-skill approach to drama. A freshman entering high school is experiencing an important change. A senior graduating from high school is experiencing a total life shift, a shift that will require that you move into life as a young adult. High School time, wisely used, can give you 4 years of skills and practice that can prepare you to move confidently ahead. Therefore CMHS Drama must do much more than recreational shows. We must be part of preparing students for life. In this program, you'll be the one to make the shows happen (adults won't do it for you - you'll get help but...). You'll decide for yourself how high you want to go by the level of commitment you're willing to make. In CMHS drama, you work for what you want ... and it can be even MORE than FUN!

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Who can join CMHS Drama?

Any CMHS student who auditions! Back to the Top10. Is it ok to do both a sport and drama? YES! YES! YES! If you've got the stamina, we're willing to try to work this out. All drama projects have a commitment period where conflicts can be negotiated. However, once a schedule has been agreed upon, follow-through is required to maintain your right to this flexibility.

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How Much time is involved in doing drama?

Shows have about 10 hours per week of rehearsal (this depends on your part), a couple of 4-6 hour Saturdays (near the end of the show), plus about 10 additional hours the last week (and shows of course!). Other Project time Schedules will be discussed before you commit. Rehearsal schedules are decided on and distributed during the process of commitment.

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Is there any academic requirement involved?

The drama program requires a commitment that involves simply following the rules of CMHS. If you violate a rule (like sexual harassment), you will be dropped from the play.

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You keep mentioning commitment. Why?

Basically it has been stated that you must work to earn what you want. Commitment means that you openly agree to pay the price a project (or status) involves or lose your right to participate at your desired level. Also, When you join an extra-curricular project, you will be given rehearsal schedules and requirements. You must have parental approval, sign a commitment form accepting consequences for not keeping your word, and sometimes pay a fee. Failure to live up to your commitment will result in dismissal, lower drama ranking and possible probation/suspension from drama. When you give your word, you will be bound by that word, so do not give your word lightly or impulsively.

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What do you mean by respect?

We must maintain an organization that allows you to be free to develop as an artist. GOOD MANNERS and MUTUAL RESPECT will be maintained by all drama members. Substance abuse, lying, ditching, gossip and other things will be dealt with. Although there is no policy against gossiping, manners and respect are to be expected. GOSSIP is defined as any communication about another that you would not want to say to their face, passing along private information, or laughing about another's personal habits, etc. Making it difficult for someone to perform an act necessary to performance by immature comments, inappropriate laughter, or silly gestures is also disrespectful. The general rule is: IF YOU DON'T HAVE SOMETHING POSITIVE TO SAY/DO, DON'T SAY/DO ANYTHING. Since eligibility is required for extra-curricular participation, your school record affects your drama standing too. A drama member should be among the most respected students in the school. (A hoped-for goal!) You must also respect our workspace by maintaining safety.

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Safety?

Safety is critical to "show biz". There are too many risky elements to allow a lack of common sense and roughhousing. General rules are:

  1. Do not touch what is not yours.
  2. Do not go into places you have not been cleared to enter.
  3. Do not touch any prop that isn’t yours unless told by the director or the prop manager. Be very careful with all props.
  4. Keep your body under control.
  5. Be where you are supposed to be when you are supposed to be there.

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All this seems so complicated and hard.

Why should I do it? What's in it for me? WOW - oh, WOW!

  1. Challenge and Achievement
  2. Confidence based in reality, not just feeling
  3. Deep friendships
  4. Lasting memories
  5. Skills for a successful life
  6. Opportunities now and in the future
  7. A deeper understanding of yourself and others
  8. Creativity
  9. Excitement and Endurance, ups and downs, food and fun, and GLORY!

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